A 686 is a Confidence Builder

[The_Shootist]

After shooting my M85 snubby today and still stuggling after 200 rds to keep the bulk of my shots sorta close to the bullseye, I picked up my 686.

Glad I did - its a 4" bbl 686+ pre-hole model and I'm amazed at how good it can make a shooter look. 145 gr full power silver tips (my carry load when I use it for CCW) grouped about 1 1/2" togther about 2 inches below the bullseye at 7yds. That was pretty offhand shooting too.

When concentrating, pretty much 90% of the shots I directed were POA - be they 38 spl wadcutters or .357 w/c (both being 158 gr). The slick action, easy handling even full power .357 loads and its accuracy make me glad I ever added it to my collection.

In fact, I'm considering tossing my G19 in the safe, buying a couple of boxes of Silvertips and making it my primary carry for awhile. Maybe til next spring when warmer weather returns (this morning at 7 am it was a chilly 76 deg F so I know fall/winter is on the way). Timne to carry something beefier than a .38 spl or Mak.

Figure the 686 fits the bill!

 

[Schwebel]

My brother has a 4" 686, and it is a tack driver. Love that gun, it handles the .357's great and has a nice smooth "broken in" action. I've been looking for a LEO trade-in 686 for a little while. I once went from my 442 to the 686 at the range, and was like "holy crap", what a nice shooting gun. Everyone needs, one, or two of them...lol.

 

[glockman19]

My first revolver was a 4" 686 and it is as accurate and well balanced as any gun I've shot.

 

[TargetTerror]

I have a 686-4 that a friend of mine helped me do a trigger job on. Now the action is SWEET.

She's a tackdriver, too. 5.1 gr of Unique behind a 125 gr JSP will group just over 1 inch at 25 yards.

 

[BikerRN]

The 686 is a great revolver and I love mine.

I'm thinking of getting another one and having it heavily customized. It would be a "dream gun" to replace the Andy Cannon "Street L" that I lost years ago. I was out shooting my 686 yesterday, I just love the way it handles the 125 Grain SJHP's.

My EDC is a S&W 22-4 and I live in the desert southwest. I don't comprende' having it be too hot to carry a 4" L-Frame.

Biker

 

[jameslovesjammie]

I've got a 8 3/8" 686 and I LOVE IT!!! At home we have a 8x10 steel plate hanging at 100 yards next to our rifle sight in target. I used to pull up and empty my cylinder into that plate time and time again offhand. Smooth trigger and excellent accuracy. What more could you want!?!

 

[Ala Dan]

I'm a proud owner of a S&W 686-5 myself; and YES, it does make me look
like a champion shooter provided that I do my part (laughing loudly ).

 

[Noxx]

I own a pair of 686's in 4", it's one of the first handguns I ever fired, and to this day they're the best at making me look better than I am, with only the Sig220 in the neighborhood.

 

[Walkalong]

My 686 no dash is serious accurate. It's great trigger helps a lot, but it is just plain accurate

ROLL TIDE

 

[ACP]

686 is my home defense revolver and the wife shoots it very well. I also have a Blade Tech holster for it, mostly for woods carry with Cor Bon black bear loads but it will also do under a coat. Mine came from the factory with Hogue grips.

I took a class at S&W some years ago and one of the instructors had just come back from West Germany and said the German border guards were still carrying 686's. A darn fine revolver, very accurate and reliable.

 

[BikerRN]

I'd like to find a 4" 681 to do that customizing on.

I like fixed sights on my "fighting guns" and make no mistake about it. A gunfight is a fight!

Biker

 

[Rexster]

BikerRN, I remember reading about those Andy Cannon Street L sixguns. One of my "coulda shoulda wouldas" is actually making the move to have one of those built for me back in the day. I started peace officering in 1984 with an M686, which, like many Bangor Punta S&W products, was lesser than its predecessors, but my M581 was much better made. I was carrying an M58 as primary when hard times hit later in the 1980's, and the L frames had to go. By 1992, the M58 was mostly retired, with a Ruger GP100 riding in my duty rig, but I still have my eye out for a good M581 or M681. Though my duty rig must now carry a .40 autoloader, a good medium-large sixgun is indeed still a confidence builder, and I have a fixed-sight 4" GP100 that goes to work with me as a "back-up gun." Who said a BUG has to be small? S&W L-frame or Ruger GP100, these sturdy sixguns are great.

 

[BikerRN]

Hi Rexster

Andy made that 686 in to what it was supposed to be. I lost it in the 1990's due to "hard times", much like you. My Off-Duty carry is a S&W 22-4 Thunder Ranch Revolver in 45 ACP. I had the Performance Center "slick" it up a little bit. The more I shoot this gun the more I think 45 ACP is wasted in autoloaders.

I too found out about the "Street L" from that magazine article. The day after I read it I was on the phone to learn how to ship it to Mr. Cannon. When I got it back I couldn't believe it. It was the S&W that made the Tedfordized Python look like a "$50 Saturday Night Special".

Oh well, live and learn as they say. I've considered having a "copy" of the "Street L" done, or maybe improving on perfection and doing something slightly different, but with the "Street L" concept. I'm really leaning toward a fixed sight gun. I'm considering doing it with the GP100 3", but I really like the 7 rounds of the 686+.

Oh well, decisions decisions, I'll ponder it for a while. Take care and stay safe. I'm going to get ready for work.

Biker